Apple's Moats Intact Despite AI Noise: Perplexity CEO Says iPhone ‘Won’t Be Disrupted’

• Apple’s deep user penetration and superior platform allow it the room to develop and ship AI at its own pace.
• The iPhone maker on Monday named John Ternus, the head of its hardware division, as the next CEO, effective Sept. 1.
• Apple is scheduled to report its Q2 results next Thursday.

Over the past year, Apple (AAPL) has drawn criticism from users and investors for missteps in its AI strategy and for the delayed rollout of features that have long been available on competing devices.

However, Perplexity CEO Aravind Srinivas believes those concerns may be overblown, arguing that rapid AI innovation elsewhere could, in fact, act as a tailwind for Apple.

“Here’s my opinion and I haven't said this before, the iPhone is actually not getting disrupted by AI at all,” Srinivas said on the This Week In AI podcast. 

In a snippet shared on the podcast’s X page (the full podcast will be released Thursday at 8 pm PT), Srinivas argued that Apple’s deep user penetration and superior platform allow it the room to develop and ship AI at its own pace.

“They (Apple) have the ability to take time and do things the way they want to do, because they have a lot of advantages as a brand that people truly trust, and the ecosystem lock-in is underrated,” he said.

IPhone’s Ecosystem Lock-In Is Apple’s Biggest Edge

Apple devices are now used by more than 2 billion people worldwide. Meanwhile, the success of the iPhone 17 lineup supercharged iPhone sales last quarter, and the company has significantly expanded its services and wearables segments over the years.

Srinivas said the iPhone is increasingly becoming the touchpoint of users’ interaction with AI services. “In fact, the more AI works better, the iPhone essentially becomes your digital passport. It has your wallets, it has all your cards. It has your passes. It has your health records. You connect with other human beings through it. You do facetimes, you do calls, you have your photos of like, like, precious moments in your life.”

Until last year, delays in rolling out AI features, coupled with weak sales in the key China market, kept AAPL stock largely range-bound. Apple has announced AI partnerships with Google and Alibaba for China, but is yet to roll out related features across its devices.

AAPL Results Next Week

Investors would now turn to Apple’s second-quarter report, scheduled for April 30. Analysts expect sales to rise 15% to $109.7 billion, nearly the highest pace of growth since 2021, according to Koyfin. Profit is expected to rise 18% to $1.95 per share.

Earlier this week, Apple announced that its hardware chief John Ternus would take over as the company’s CEO in September. Tim Cook would move to the role of executive chairman. The company’s Q2 report gains greater significance, as it would be the first time Ternus would likely address analysts on a post-earnings call.

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